Author's note : Dear readers, first of all, thank you for your patience.
You'll notice I didn't include a glossary. I figured that if you've made it so far, you're familiar with Morag's Scottish accent and wording. If I used a new Scottish term, I will make a note of it. Please let me know if you preferred having a glossary at the end of each chapter, though.
Confessions
Night had fallen, its damp, chilly darkness creeping through the streets and clinging to the windowpanes. Despite Minerva's insistence that they should sleep at the castle, Morag had refused the offer, and after setting protective wards around the cottage, the headmistress left with Horace and Poppy. As the door closed behind them, Severus' breath caught in his throat, the tension finally overtaking him, and he collapsed on a chair, eyes shut, shaking all over. Soon he felt the healer's arms embrace him, her warm body settling on his lap, and he savoured her sweet, fresh scent. His hands ran down her back, circled her waist, and he held her tighter than he'd ever had, his face buried in her neck.
"How are you feeling?" he breathed. "You should lie down and get some rest."
"I'm guid, really I am. I cannae feel the pain anymore." Small dimples formed around her mouth as she smiled. "Dinnae fash yersel', Severus."
He remained silent a while, admiring Morag's lashes fluttering over her eyes, the golden specks dancing in her dark irises. His heart hammered painfully in his chest, and tumultuous thoughts swirled in his mind. He wished he could voice them, but words felt like heavy pebbles stuck in his throat. Breathing deeply, he attempted to regain some sense of calm.
"Was Bellatrix telling the truth? Are you…" He could not bring himself to say it.
"Expecting a bairn, aye. I didnae want tae tell ye just yet. I wanted tae wait a wee bit longer, see, just tae be on the safe side. I must be aboot ten weeks along, noo."
He reasoned he should rejoice, and congratulate her, but numbness clouded his mind.
"I understand it's a lot tae take in, Severus," she said, as if she'd heard his thoughts. "Let's have something tae eat, aye? We'll talk after."
Releasing herself from his arms, she made her way to the kitchen sink and splashed water on her flushed cheeks. A hearty fragrance rose as she brought the pot to the table, and she poured the velvety soup into their bowls. Sitting next to Severus, she broke a piece of Bannock, and crumbles scattered on the white and blue tiles of the table. They ate in silence; the wizard still felt distraught, memories of his troubled childhood resurfacing. He had no role model to guide him through the unexpected responsibilities now facing him. The prospect of being a father was daunting enough, but a vengeful Death Eater lusting for their blood made his mind reel. He remembered very clearly the last time he had felt such intense dread, during the first war: the moment he had realized Lily was in deadly danger.
"Look," he finally said as they cleared the table. "Minerva is right. There is no safer place than Hogwarts. As long as that vicious bitch Bellatrix is on the loose, I want you to be protected."
"I cannae give in tae fear, Severus. Besides, I'd feel like a rat in a cage cooped up in yon fortress."
"I understand that, but until Bellatrix is dealt with, I want you to come to the Castle with me."
"Ye want me tae come with ye? Ye dinnae get tae tell me what tae do, Severus Snape. I am nae bairn for ye tae boss around," she said defiantly.
"I'm not trying to boss you around, Morag –"
"Sounds like ye're doing just that, though."
"Please, hear me out. Bellatrix is savage, you saw that for yourself, and as skilful and resourceful as you are, you're a healer, not a fighter. I don't want to lose the woman I love; can you understand that?"
"Say that again?"
"I said you're a healer, not a fighter –"
"Nae, Severus, I meant the bit after that."
He gazed into her eyes. "I don't want to lose you. I love you, Morag." As he said the words, the tightness in his chest loosened. The young witch stared back at him and her features softened into a smile. Her hazel eyes glistened with tears. When they started rolling down her cheeks, he wiped them gently with his thumbs.
He enfolded her in his arms and continued, "I want you to be safe. You and our child. Please, would you come to the castle with me?"
"All right then, I'll go tae yer damn castle," she laughed, before her lips fluttered on his.
Draco walked glumly into the Great Hall and made his way to the Slytherin table, where his fellow students were already gorging themselves on roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, toad-in-the-hole and roast beef soaked in gravy. He had stayed behind in Potions class, perfecting his mandrake restorative draught, and felt disappointed with the results. Professor Snape's strict, meticulous manner suited him much better than Professor Slughorn's jumbled, exuberant methods. He helped himself to potatoes and vegetables, chewing his food absent-mindedly. Glancing at the teachers' table, he realized the Headmistress's seat lay empty.
"Where's McGonagall?" he enquired to Theodore Nott, who had managed to put a whole slice of roast in his mouth at once. The young man shrugged, uninterested, but a curly-haired first-year boy by the name of Mc Millan answered. "She left about an hour ago. A doe Patronus trotted up the hall and made straight for the top table. Professor McGonagall left almost immediately afterwards."
"She came back a few minutes ago. I heard her talk to Madam Pomfrey on my way here," Millicent piped in. "I heard them say that Bellatrix Lestrange attacked Morag Duncan. You know, the healer who lives in Hogsmeade," she added.
Draco blanched and pushed his plate away.
Packing their belongings had not taken much time, and soon Morag and Severus strode into the dungeons. Morag set her bags down and let her gaze wander, taking in her surroundings. Polished chairs and a round desk stood on wide flagstones, carved with Celtic knots, and a brass snake curled into a green stained-glass lampshade. Tall windows let in turquoise shimmery reflections from the lake, giving the place an eerie feel, and Severus lit the fire, anxious to give it a more homely atmosphere. Sliding his arm around her waist, he led her to the bedroom. The mahogany panels on the back wall lent a bit of warmth to the otherwise severe elegance of his private quarters.
"Never seen a bed so grand, let alone slept in it," Morag mused, brushing her finger against the green velvet curtains of the mahogany four-poster bed, then stroking the silk linens.
"Who said we're going to sleep?" Severus grinned as he pulled her close.
The first few days at the Castle had been testing, but Morag seemed to be adjusting quite well. Surprisingly, she had complied with Severus' request to limit home visits so he could always accompany her. When he was teaching, she helped Poppy in the hospital wing, assisted Pomona in the greenhouses, and devoured books in the library. She was often joined there by Hermione Granger, whose company she seemed to enjoy. However, she had kept her pregnancy quiet from staff and students alike.
Severus was busy marking his fourth-year students' essays on Erklings when he heard a knock on his office door.
"Enter," he stated.
Draco Malfoy, his face even paler than usual, walked in tentatively. He was fiddling with a loose button on his shirt.
"May I speak to you, Professor?"
"You may, Draco. Please take a seat."
Draco complied, still twiddling his button. He opened his mouth a few times, then closed it again. He looked irritatingly more like a nervous first-year than an adult wizard.
"If you have anything of interest to share, Draco, I suggest you speak up," Severus said tersely.
"I heard about what happened to Miss Duncan. I – I'm sorry," the young man said.
"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, Draco, what happened has nothing to do with you."
"Well, it kind of has, sir." He paused and gulped, pulling on the button. It's going to snap, idiot boy, Severus thought, and he let out an impatient sigh.
"I knew Bellatrix Lestrange was alive, sir," Draco blurted out. "I'm so sorry."
Severus was on his feet in seconds, his face distorted with fury. "Why did you fail to report that information, Draco?"
"Because she's family!" The young wizard whimpered.
"Family, indeed!" snarled Severus in a low, threatening voice. "Do you know what dear Aunt Bella did?"
Draco shook his head, shaking all over.
"Not only did your dear aunt use the Cruciatus curse on Morag, but she was about to cut her womb open to murder her and the child she is expecting. My child, Draco," Severus growled, his eyes menacing as thunder clouds.
At this, the blond man clamped his hands over his mouth and retched in horror.
"So I need to know. Where is she?" Severus hissed through gritted teeth.
Draco squirmed on the chair, his face drained of what little colour it had. "I don't know, sir," he answered pleadingly. "She came to my parents' before term started, but she didn't stay long –"
Severus grabbed his arms and forced him to his feet, staring into the pale blue eyes. Taking no notice of the bile that was now running down the young man's chin, he repeated, "Where. Is. She?" Somehow the fact that his voice was down to a whisper made him even more frightening.
"There… there is a house in Yorkshire. It belonged to her husband's family – "
"Location." After Draco had given him the most precise indications he could, Severus let released his arms, letting the blond wizard stagger backwards to regain his balance.
"There's something else, sir." Draco took a deep breath. "The Dark Mark… I think she can use it to find out exactly where you are. Like a trace."
Severus' eyes narrowed.
"How so?"
"My father mentioned an ancient spell that can be combined with any magically-induced skin mark, that enables the caster to find another bearer at will. He said Bella could use it to locate other surviving Death Eaters."
He rubbed his arm furiously. "I see. Thank you for the late notice," he snarled. "Anything else you have accidentally forgotten to inform me of, Draco?"
"N- no, sir, that's all."
"One more thing."
"Yes, sir?" The blond wizard hardly dared to look up.
"Did you inadvertently mention Morag in front of your family at any point?"
"N-no, sir, I don't really talk to them that much –"
"I hope, for your sake, that you're telling the truth," Severus growled. "Now, get out of my sight."
As soon as Draco had left, Severus addressed the portrait of Hector Dagworth-Granger on his wall. "Could you please ask the Headmistress to come to my office as soon as possible? Tell her to bring Morag. She should be at the hospital wing."
Half an hour later, Minerva and Morag had joined Severus, who filled them in on what Draco had said.
"Well, it is pretty obvious we must inform the Ministry," the Headmistress exclaimed. "The Malfoys will have to be interrogated."
"Obviously. However, should we fail to find her, I can hardly hide in Hogwarts castle with Morag for the rest of my life, can I? That confounded Dark Mark cannot be erased – "
"Actually, it can," Morag said. "At least, I think so."
"What?" the two professors exclaimed in unison.
"There's a dark ritual that can be used tae remove magical brands on the skin and curses attached to them. It might just work tae get rid of the Dark Mark," she explained. "I ken a witch who can do it. Her name's Melanie Deane."